Shi Ning, her mood instantly brightening at the sight of the delicious breakfast, was about to shower her “lovely mother-in-law” with praise.
But the barrage flashed, a crucial reminder:
[Don’t praise! Sexual unrequited love is afraid of sudden enthusiasm, and it must be gradual, otherwise it will retreat and disgust.]
[Shui Qianlan needs a blow, and because her mother who had been abusing her died, she was very confused. In addition, the Qin family had everything, and she didn’t feel needed.]
[No one has ever understood her needs, thinking that as long as she enjoys the good life, it will be fine, but it’s not like that.]
Shi Ning quickly reined in her compliments. She adopted a cool tone. “Since you worked hard to make breakfast, I will reluctantly eat it.”
Shui Qianlan frowned, her gaze fixed on Shi Ning.
Shi Ning began to eat, offering blunt critiques. “The braised beef tastes good, but the meat is a little old and sticky.” She continued, “The pork ribs and hot and sour noodles are very appetizing, but a little sour. Put less vinegar next time…”
The servants stood stunned. How dare the young lady order her mother-in-law to cook and then audaciously critique her! Is this a daughter-in-law? Or the actual head of the household? They glanced at Shui Qianlan’s face, her gentle features now pulled into a tight knot of displeasure. The air crackled with anticipation; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law battle seemed inevitable.
Shi Ning sampled more than a dozen dishes, eating until she was full. She finally looked up and delivered her summation to Shui Qianlan. “It’s barely okay, quite to my taste, but I don’t eat coriander. Don’t put coriander next time.” She added, her voice sharp, “Also, don’t wake me up for breakfast like this. It makes me grumpy!”
The servants held their breath.
Shui Qianlan stared at Shi Ning, her expression unreadable. After a long moment, she simply said, “Okay.”
The servants gasped, looking up at Shui Qianlan in disbelief. Madam, do you still remember that you are the young lady’s mother-in-law?
Shi Ning, too, was surprised. What a weird way of getting along; the mother-in-law actually said ‘yes’.
Shui Qianlan caught sight of the servants’ bewildered faces and instantly reacted. Her original intention in calling Shi Ning was to make Shi Ning cook breakfast, and then, after Shi Ning didn’t eat it, declare it “worse than pig food”! Now, the tables had completely turned.
Feeling a pang of discomfort, Shui Qianlan immediately put on a stern face. “When you are full, leave the old house and leave Heye.”
Shi Ning looked up. “You want me to leave Qin Heye?”
“Yes!”
Shi Ning nodded calmly. “Okay, you name a price.”
Shui Qianlan was momentarily stunned, as if she’d misheard. She stared blankly at Shi Ning. “What did you say?”
Shi Ning, ever the scriptwriter, directly helped her along. “Write a check and slap it in my face arrogantly and say . ‘I’ll give you 500 million to leave my son!'”
Shui Qianlan was utterly bewildered. “500 million! Why don’t you just rob me?!”
Shi Ning smiled sweetly. “I am robbing it, robbing your money.” She added, “Also, these 500 million are just for leaving Qin Heye, not for divorce. If you want us to divorce, that will be another price.”
Shui Qianlan was so utterly confused that she didn’t know how to respond. She said, her voice surprisingly calm, “Sure enough, you only want his money when you marry He Ye.”
Shi Ning replied as a matter of course, “If I don’t want my husband’s money, does my mother-in-law want to teach me to want other people’s husbands’ money? Isn’t that bad?”
Shui Qianlan was flustered again. “You are disrespectful to your mother-in-law, sharp-tongued, even if you change your temper, you are not worthy of being my daughter-in-law!” She knew her son’s character: overbearing, domineering, hiding a dark side that even she feared. If Qin Heye and Shi Ning were forced to be together, tragedy would inevitably strike them both.
Shi Ning responded slowly, “If you can’t change me, then my mother-in-law will remarry.”
Just as Shi Ning dropped this bombshell, Grandpa Qin, who had rushed over, fearing Shi Ning was being bullied, froze mid-stride. He pulled back one leg and looked around the living room. Had he entered the wrong door?
Qin Hongyi, coming down the stairs with the enormous turtle in his arms, was equally stunned. He closed his eyes, hoping it was an illusion. I asked you to help me chase a wife, not to help me change one!
Shui Qianlan stared, “What did you say?” She had never, not once, contemplated divorce!
Shi Ning looked at her with a knowing smile and repeated, “Mother-in-law, you can remarry, change your husband, change your son, and find a qualified daughter-in-law who satisfies you and be her mother-in-law.”
Qin Hongyi truly panicked. Shui Qianlan disliked and even hated him. If he asked for a divorce, she would genuinely agree! Picking up the large turtle, he rushed downstairs, shouting, his face grim, “Shi Ning…”
Shi Ning interrupted him with a smile. “Dad just told me yesterday that he doesn’t like mother-in-law anymore. Anyway, we might as well get a divorce.”
Qin Hongyi’s panic intensified. His face flushed as he tried to explain, “I…” But before he could finish, Shui Qianlan turned and walked away. Qin Hongyi, desperate, immediately chased after her, turtle still in his arms. “Qianlan! Don’t listen to Shi Ning’s nonsense, she…”
Shi Ning deliberately blocked Qin Hongyi, blinking and winking at him. “Father-in-law, just admit it. You’ve changed your mind and don’t like my mother-in-law anymore.”
Qin Hongyi was beside himself with anxiety, his face bright red. He desperately wanted to push Shi Ning away and pursue his wife. But, he felt it wasn’t right to touch his daughter-in-law, so he merely raised the big turtle and pointed it at Shi Ning.
Shi Ning lowered her voice so only he could hear. “If you want a wife, listen to me.”
Qin Hongyi’s eyes widened. The daughter-in-law has a firm grip on her son… then, then listen just this once?
Shi Ning looked up. Shui Qianlan, who had been walking quickly, had now slowed her pace, tilting her head slightly to observe Qin Hongyi’s reaction. Shi Ning seized the moment and shouted to Shui Qianlan, “Mother-in-law, I won’t eat lunch’and in dinner I want to eat the braised pork ribs you cooked , but I don’t want coriander!”
Shui Qianlan, feeling a twinge of discomfort that Qin Hongyi hadn’t caught up, slowly walked away.
Old Master Qin was stunned. He looked at Shi Ning. He wanted to question her, but remembering Shi Ning’s tears and her declaration of him being a “very good grandfather” just yesterday, he suppressed his critical tone. “Granddaughter-in-law, what are you doing?”
Shi Ning yawned sleepily. “Mother-in-law is too idle; I’ll find something for her to do.” So as not to find fault with me. Please outsource it.
Old Master Qin was bewildered. Instigating a divorce between the parents-in-law? Is this “finding something to do”? This is simply poking the sky.
Shi Ning, fearing further misunderstandings and knowing her reputation as a troublemaker who harmed the Qin family, decided to clarify. She raised her hand and told the servant, “You go out; we have to have a family meeting.”
The servant left, and Xu Chang stood guard at the door.
Shi Ning directly explained, “Grandpa, father-in-law, don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want to make a mess of the old house.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “It’s the mother-in-law, she is sick! She has a serious mental illness. Your attitude towards her is wrong!”
Old Master Qin looked confused. “Psychological illness is mental illness?”
Qin Hongyi interjected, “Dad, don’t talk nonsense, Qianlan is very healthy.”
Shi Ning sighed. She thinks they are all unhealthy, otherwise why would Qin Heye gradually develop abnormally? He must be the one with the least disease in the Qin family.
“Mother-in-law is really sick. This is called unrequited love…” Under Shi Ning’s “popular science” explanation, Qin Hongyi immediately understood.
“You mean,” he began, trying to grasp it, “she likes me, but I don’t like her. Once I like her, she immediately feel psychological disgust?”
Shi Ning nodded. “Yeah.” She gave him clear advice. “So if you want to have a good relationship with my mother-in-law, remember to pretend not to like her, and occasionally force love.”
Qin Hongyi’s old face flushed at the suggestion. Because Shui Qianlan had always hated him, he’d been terrified of her hating him even more. Without her consent, he never dared to touch her. Sometimes their marital life was less than twice a year, and even then, she would approach him with a cold face. It was truly a desolate, sexless marriage! Now, Shi Ning was telling him she wanted “forced love”! Is it really appropriate for someone of their age to play so wildly?
Qin Hongyi hesitated. “Is this… really appropriate?”
Shi Ning nodded, her expression serious. “This is perfect! For the happiness of you and your wife, you have to say you don’t like it, and then wash the sheets with a cold face every night.”